Things to do in London this weekend
Get merry this weekend with the best festivities happening in London on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
It’s official: we’ve entered Christmas month. December means Christmas lights, twinkling trees and glistening ice rinks. For proper festive feels make a beeline for Enchanted Eltham Palace, Doggy Christmas Jumper Day and Somerset House’s Skate All-Nighter. Your seasonal lowdown starts here.
RECOMMENDED: Find more things to do in London this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
What’s on this weekend?
The Nomad Cinema Festive Igloo
What is it?
A giant pop-up cinema in an igloo.
Why go?
To enjoy the novelty of watching a film in a cosy dome and get that fuzzy feeling knowing that all proceeds got to charity.
The one thing you should know?
This weekend’s screenings include ‘Purple Rain’ and ‘Amazing Grace’.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
What is it?
A mecca dedicated to all things Christmas.
Why go?
To ride the rollercoasters, gawp at the parades and whizz down an ice slide.
The one thing you should know?
In Santa Land, kids can meet the S-man in his grotto for free, on a first come, first served basis.
The Great Christmas Pudding Race
What is it?
A Christmas charity race where runners try to navigate a foam slalom and various inflatable hazards while balancing plates of Christmas pud.
Why go?
To laugh and point.
The one thing you should know?
It’s all for a good cause and that’s the spirit of Christmas, right?
Show of the Week: ‘Cars: Accelerating the Modern World’
What is it?
A supercharged journey through the history (and future) of automobiles.
Why go?
To see all types of special cars. From the Latino low-riders of LA to Hitler’s pet project, an olive VW Beetle. It’s going to be a great ride.
The one thing you should know?
There’s a driverless, electric car that somehow flies.
Enchanted Eltham Palace
What is it?
A south London fancy art deco mansion bathed in Christmas illuminations
Why go?
To walk down a mirrorball alley, get lost in a maze of light and see fountains in the ancient moat lit up in colourful hues.
The one thing you should know?
You’ll get the chance to warm up with a post-walk mince pie and mulled wine.
The Pig’s Ear Beer and Cider Festival
What is it?
A boozefest that showcases more than 200 barrels of delicious ales and apple brews.
Why go?
To sample suds from all over.
The one thing you should know?
There’ll be plenty of hot dogs on offer to soak up all that alcohol.
‘The Snowman’: late-night screening
What is it?
An adults-only showing of Raymond Briggs’s Christmas classic.
Why go?
To settle down in the beautiful Walthamstow Assembly Hall and listen to a live score from East London Brass.
The one thing you should know?
Be prepared for that tearjerker of an ending.
Chermas
What is it?
A Cher appreciation night with a festive makeover.
Why go?
To see an evening full of drag, comedy, lip-syncing, feminist performance art and burlesque, culminating in a Cher disco.
The one thing you should know?
There’ll also be a 75-slide presentation about Cher’s life, obvs.
The Alternative Bring and Buy Sale
What is it?
An alternative market stocking all things goth, metal and punk.
Why go?
To rummage through tons of unusual jumble.
The one thing you should know?
There’ll be a bar with DJs spinning a soundtrack to your Sunday afternoon.
Show of the Week: ‘Sh!t Actually’
What is it?
A new two-woman show that remakes the Christmas film we all hate to love, ‘Love Actually’.
Why go?
To laugh like you’ve never before.
The one thing you should know?
Book ten tickets or more at the same time and get a free bottle of prosecco.
Skate All-Nighter
What is it?
An after-hours skating session on Somerset House's beautiful rink.
Why go?
To practise your triple axels between 11pm and 8am.
The one thing you should know?
Ticket price includes access to the venue's ‘24/7’ exhibition.
Deptford Festive Knees Up
What is it?
Deptford Market Yard’s pub Taproom SE8 will host breweries, street food stalls and music.
Why go?
To eat, drink and be merry.
The one thing you should know?
Dig deep! The event is raising money for local charity 999 Club.
‘My Brilliant Friend’
What is it?
An epic two-part stage adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels.
Why go?
To see Catherine McCormack’s ferociously brilliant turn as Lila.
The one thing you should know?
You’re guaranteed one helluva story.
Doggy Christmas Jumper Day
What is it?
A world-record attempt for the biggest gathering of dogs and people in Christmas knitwear.
Why go?
To be overloaded with cuteness.
The one thing you should know?
You’ll need to register here to save your place.
‘Cinderella’
What is it?
A quality panto that’s a cut above the average ‘he’s behind you’ lol fest.
Why go?
For a woke panto (that’s also sweet and funny).
The one thing you should know?
There’ll be plenty of raucous belly laughs.
‘Alfredo Jaar: 25 Years Later’
What is it?
An exhibition marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Rwandan genocide.
Why go?
To see Jaar’s important work especially when everyone else looked away.
The one thing you should know?
You can expect to see some horrifying, but unbelievably powerful images.
Sample Christmas Market
What is it?
A brand-new village fête, with a London twist, by the river.
Why go?
For an all-singing, all-dancing Christmas extravaganza complete with designers, craft makers and seasonal food stallholders.
The one thing you should know?
There’ll be plenty of festive workshops to get stuck into.
London Santa Dash
What is it?
A fun fun for people dressed as Santa raising money for Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital.
Why go?
To run like the wind, listen to carols, munch free mince pies and earn that much-coveted Santa Run medal.
The one thing you should know?
There’s no deadline to sign up for a 5km or 10km race.
‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’
What is it?
A new stage adaptation of CS Lewis’s seminal fantasy novel.
Why go?
For the trippy lion and the terrifying witch.
The one thing you should know?
This version of Narnia is a wilderness of pure imagination, unshackled, ecstatic and pagan.
St James’s Christmas Market
What is it?
A Christmas bazaarshowcasing brands from the area.
Why go?
To wander around the colourful stalls and hunt down hand-crafted goods while humming along to live Christmas carols.
The one thing you should know?
There’ll be loads of delicious artisanal food and drink – come hungry.
‘Young Bomberg and the Old Masters’
What is it?
A small exhibition of big energy, big vision and big paintings.
Why go?
Because British artist David Bomberg deserves more love than he currently gets.
The one thing you should know?
This miniature exhibition makes a massive case for the importance of free access to great art.
Encore UK Theatre Widget
You may also like
Snap up exclusive discounts in London
Time Out's handpicked deals — hurry, they won't be around for long...